Over 900,000 square meters in Saxony-Anhalt are sealed - Saxony-Anhalt resists urban sprawl as Germany's least sealed state in 2024

Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern remain the least developed states in Germany. New figures from 2024 show they have preserved more natural area than any other region. Just 4.5 percent of Saxony-Anhalt's total area is now covered in asphalt or concrete—a small but growing share of the landscape.

By the end of 2024, sealed surfaces in Saxony-Anhalt reached 923 square kilometres. This marks a 2.3 percent increase since 2016, reflecting gradual urban and infrastructure expansion. Despite the rise, the state still ranks third-lowest in Germany for sealed land, behind only Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (3.5 percent) and Brandenburg (4.2 percent).

Buildings and roads account for 40.4 percent of the sealed areas in Saxony-Anhalt—the smallest proportion nationwide. The rest includes industrial sites, parking lots and other paved spaces. The figures highlight how the state has maintained more open area compared to more heavily developed regions.

The data confirms Saxony-Anhalt's position as one of Germany's least sealed states. With just 4.5 percent of its land covered, it trails only two other eastern regions. However, the steady increase since 2016 suggests ongoing pressure on undeveloped areas.